Craig & Others Don't get too excited about the legal consequences of a moving white light - you just haven't remembered the rules correctly ;-) A single white all-round light is, as you say, good for an anchor light. However, it is also good for a powered vessel underway - if that vessel is under 7m and incapable of exceeding 7 knots. If you don't believe me, check the Collregs - or the US Homeland Security RULE 23: POWER-DRIVEN VESSELS UNDERWAY. They even have a little pop-up illustration which shows exactly what they mean (and it looks just like a lot of kayak lights - http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/pops/nr_23cii.htm). So, the concept of a slowly moving small vessel being marked by a white light is absolutely valid. The leap to using this on a kayak (or on a row-boat or small sailing craft - under 7m) surely comes down to the definitions of 'exhibiting a lighted lantern' and 'in time to prevent a collision'. The original arguments for requiring display only when 'prevent(ing) a collision' may be lost in history. It is hard to argue against showing it as soon as you leave the beach. There is no requirement that you avoid showing it before 'time' - or that you dowse it after 'time'. The only requirement is that you show it 'in time'. This sounds like an old bit of rule-making, because 'lantern' is nowhere defined and sounds a bit historic. The 'torch' is required to be electric, but the lantern is not. There is nowhere a distinction made between a 'lantern' and a 'light'. Presumably, by the time powered vessels came along, it was felt that you could afford to carry sufficient fuel to keep (at least one) light burning continuously. So this is required of a powered vessel and it is called a 'light' and has defined requirements for brightness/visibility. I see no issues with choosing to do the same in one of the 'un'-powered small craft. You can never be accused of failing to display it in time - and at worst you may be confused with a small (and slow) powered vessel underway. Or, of lesser concern, you might be confused with a row boat or a small sailboat. It seems low-risk and manageable - you are visible as a slow-moving obstacle. The only drawback to being indistinguishable from a small powered vessel is in the right-of-way rules. I've never figured out how two vessels - one powered & one sailing - both legally showing a white all-round light or lantern are going to work it out. I guess the cases just don't make the front pages ;-) Best Regards Paul Hayward, Auckland, New Zealand *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Mar 24 2010 - 18:39:21 PDT
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